Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin resigns from Proton

It looks like the speculation made by The Edge last month about Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin resigning from his post has turned out to be true. Proton has just released a statement confirming Syed Zainal’s resignation. Here’s the statement in full

Following a number of media queries, Proton Holdings Berhad today wishes to confirm the resignation of Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir as the Group Managing Director of Proton Holdings Berhad, effective July 4, 2012.

Syed Zainal has been with Proton for over six years and we are grateful for his contributions to the company. He has decided to leave Proton on his own accord to pursue his own interests and we respect his decision. We also wish to announce the resignation of Chief Financial Officer Azhar Othman from Proton, effective July 6, 2012. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Following the departure of Syed Zainal, the Executive Chairman of Proton, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil, will continue his leadership role in steering the company forward.

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

Thr question is, what will happen to DSZ after this. Most probably we will hear that an oversea company will get his expertise, much like Hassan Merican.

Afterall we live in a country where the leaders still have the “Singapura dilanggar todak” mentality. They can’t appreciate a great figure leading a giant company. Maybe with a lackluster figure heading a giant company, it is easier to manipulate the spending…

I really hope some one can continue his legacy. I know Mahalel won’t but I will try to believe the “replacement” can do it. If the 1st decision he make screw things up. That’s it. I better save up money for my Fiesta S or something better. And keep my BLM till it rot.

Just be happy that proton will finally close shop and finally you can buy quality cars for cheaper price and the BN gov dont have to protect another company like proton anymore.must sent the inventor of proton to jail.

DSZ has done a splendid job at Proton. I would expect from someone who is leading the so called national pride to be able to give a public talk confidently without reading the text.

Not only that, he must be able to talk in malay fluently and it is totally unacceptable if the word Malaysia can’t be pronounced correctly.

DSZ did the above well during the Prevé launch, truly remarkable as he was representing the national brand. I could not do a better job than him, I hope the one that will replace him will at least be able to match his ability but I really doubt it.

All the pride he had about Preve being a global
car is now in ashes and washed down the drain.
Sorry DSZ your blood, sweat and tears was not
appreciated by DRB.
Time for the Govt to remove whatever protection granted to Proton to guage where they stand globally. DSZ go back to P2 and make them
continue dominating the local market and whack the day lights out of P1.
We will remember you for offering lifetime warranty to P1 cars.

I love you man!!!!
Mahathir should be sacked and kicked in his arse long time ago,because of mahathir many malaysians are deprived of owning quality cars.useless and tasteless proton.crap design like coconut scraper.

Right, because practically single-handedly developing Malaysia from a backward country to what it is now is nothing when you cannot let your citizens own “quality” cars. Just look at our roads, 100% proton what. Of course you have to sack the guy.

PS: “arse”? Seriously? How long were you in the UK? Biasa la orang Malaysia, baru makan kat Victoria Station dah perasan nak pakai British slang.

He sets the standard so high that I don’t know if anyone can emulate his success. It’ll take P1 years to find his replacement with such credibility. My question now, will DRB-H ditch DSZ next project after P3-21A?

How to reap huge profit
1) Break-up LOTUS and sell it by pieces
2) No more new model developed from scratch – only 10 year rebadge car. Sell it at high price to poor Malaysian
3) Sell Tanjung Malim plant – by producing VW cars and other models such as Mitsu

Yes, they will earned more profits but at the expense of people’s money and people’s pride. Proton will come just another Perodua. So if you only care about Proton’s P&L, then DRB is right choice. But to see Proton become global players that you can be proud of, then you should forget abt it..

After all the consolidation talk, I think that DRB wants to move all Proton operation to Tg. Malim, took over the Shah Alam plant for some property development since it is a prime location and finally sell Proton back to the government after they have rake in the cash.

All these years we have always felt that sense of ownership for Proton, more so since it belongs to the government, hence the public. Yes, it has had series of misadventures along the way. We cursed, we cried, and we cheered because we care for Proton. We just couldn’t have enough of our national car.

We take pride for every screw, nuts, and bolts of that very car were made with blood, sweat, and tears of our fellow Malaysians.

I guess that feeling is slowly fading away now. I guess when you lose that sense of belonging, that sentimental feeling is just detached from your mind right away.

The new owner can do whatever they want with their own company. Adios Proton. Thank you for the joy we shared together this past 30 years. I will find something new to cherish and love.

Looks like what everyone fears when DRB-Hicom took over Proton has finally came true – they want to wipe out the previous management team clean without even a single trace. When we hoped that Proton would be free from being dictated by some ‘fuhrers’ in Khazanah, it turned that DRB-Hicom is actually worse.

R.I.P. Proton (1985-2012). Time to read the talkin to Proton. As for DSZ, may Allah bless your life always.

I agree on that..that old man cannot accept intelligent honest people..he will get all itchy and swelling..alergic..stupid corrupted evil assholes are his remedy for immortality..senile old man. I told u guys..sekarang baru nampak kah?

Look at Thailand, they don’t have any local brand but the automotive industry is bigger and stronger than us. A lot of global players invest there due to their policy. Now they are proud to export cars made in Thailand with huge quantity even without having their own brand. Don’t whethee Dr. M will admit that his Proton is a mistake.

Since Thailand already become the Hub for Auto Industry in SEA… Investor will not really going to Malaysia, they may still go to Thailand… So, if Proton shut down, how you really sure that you can get cheaper cars? if you being the Govt, you lost one of your revenue source, so, do you think you will keep the tax lower?

Honda Malaysia? What a joke. Can even compete with UMW Toyota even when they have similar brand strength. Problem is they are short sighted, a lot of the dealership is outsourced, so they can’t compete against the service provided by UMW Toyota.

Honda M’sia? filthy overprice piece of Jap car in M’sia..Even they shorten the service interval which is supposed to be 10k to 5k to make more money.Hope somebody (especially NAZA) can take this Brand and at least perform an honest Servicing Schedule

Good brain with talent is not always welcome in this kind of organisation. Definitely same thing thing will happen. When Tan Sri Hassan was forced to resign, Conoco Philip,Sembcorp, Singapore Power, Sesco,etc immediately take him as their board of director. I see same situation here whereby I anticipate a lot of offer from competitor especially from Thai operation or perhaps our own Naza group. Let’s wait and see…..

Proton has no difference since the first day he join till the last day he leave. Only depending on domestic market and handout from the RAKYAT. I have faith that BN government can appoint a more capable leader to steer Proton to International playing field. I have faith in BN and Mahathir !

There are other who are better than him, yes he improve proton quality but after full bashed from the public. He did not develop new business to proton. Tengku mahale has better vision with proton city, big assembly plant, 6 car platform, own engine production. Him nothing except good public relation. Good to be vp PR. Where is own transmission plant, fuel injection engine, electric car, hybrid.

Yeah, own everything, pay more than what the big player paid fir and get lower quality from the vendors. That is what Proton was like under the visionary Tengku Mahalel… Perodua on the other hand did not own anything but were able to sell a lot more cars since they can build a better quality products.

agree with driver. DSZ is the one that make people still believe is P1. But still, maybe there are someone there that can do better. Who know.

TM always like grand thing. Built mega plant, build sport car, build own engine, etc. In my view, it is pointless due to inefficiency. what is the point of building and plant where you only utilise 50% of its capacity.

As of DSZ, yes the P1 is still not up to our expectation but he is on the right track. Revamp the supply chain, terminate the bad vendor (but how to terminate those with politic influence behind). With only 100k units proton car sell in Malaysia, no wonder proton still making loss especially when we intend to spend huge CAPEX and OPEX every year to do everything on our own. It is best to focus on what we do best and outsource the rest. I believe proton should develop the car with out the engine and transmission. Just buy the engine from third party such as Toyota VVTi, gearbox grom Getrag and focus their effort on the QA/QC of the car itself. Yes,true we will end up paying royalty for the parts but the saving will be pass down to us customer and vendor. Just imagine our local vendor are building parts for Proton engine (imagine the market capitalization if that engine is actually well known engine such as VVti). Definite we also could get cheaper part when the market size is huge.

Apalagi! sell to VW la. That’s what the G (our over ambitious G) is going to do eventually to make M’sia becoming rich nation (btw rich nation don’t make cheap products), or isn’t this the ultimate goal of all this unfolding event? Maybe our G’s current (unseen) motto is ‘LOOK BRITAIN. Ditch all cheap making industries to foreigner and focus on service and entertainment.

pls stop saying bad words to DRB guys, they did not fire DSZ, he resigned himself. we all love DSZ and his style and the way he controlled the P1 but the main problem ius still Tun M. he is the one who contorled the company and brought his own friends from other countries to supply and destroy… Sorry to say that I always respect Tun M as a visionary and very smart politician but people around him are using his vision and creating all headaches in Malaysia and P1.

My theory is, Tun Dr M’s crony or sons are losing money under this MD’s control due to his strict control on quality of parts from vendors who are cronies. Put under DRB, less objective control on vendors therefore cronies become happy, and then the politicians can win more votes from influential businessmen. Not that I like this guy very much, in some sense his business risk taking in over-expansion of Lotus (up to 5 models being launched) and also especially the loss of Lotus F1 control which is now under Genii (not Proton nor DRB nor Lotus cars) is the highlight of his flaws.

Arrghhhh!!Y U NO STAY??!!Mann..DSSZ is a really really humble and nice chap.met him when i was considering neo CPS at HQMutiaraDamansara.He personally greeted me (although I was wearing shorts and wornout t-shirt and selipar jepun,does not seem like a possible buyer.but hey,thats how I roll..) and explained about the car in and out! Even the SA also malu-malu already. still remember what he said..”one day we’re gonna turbocharge this model..and this baby will flyyy!!”.and I swear his eyes were glistening when he said that.his enthusiasm could not be hidden.true visionary.Salute to DSSZ.InsyaAllah,with a mind, passion and vision like yours,you will fly as well.first class. i pray for your health, wealth and future.Salute dear Sir, and GodspeeD!!
(p/s: true fact: i always listen to his speech in English before any of my presentations.turbocharges my confidence.)

Yes dear driver Sir,Im lucky,indeed. Starstrucked,to be exact.He has got the charisma of a great leader. He knows what he’s doing and what is happpening and whats going to happen around him.Real CEO material.but the humble part is quite rare for someone of his status. And he’s not faking it,thats important.he knows a lot of smiley faces out there if he decided to initiate NEO CFE. Hehehe.but…now…perhaps…maybe…maybe?..perhaps..

Now that you mentioned it, he really kinda resembles Steve Jobs. Skinny, spectacles, short hair, performs great presentation, just without his black long sleeve shirt. Hope he doesn’t die like Mr. Steve.

DSZ really did make a difference in Proton. Proton was finally listening to what the customer wants and not taking us for granted. i sincerely hope that Malaysia does not lose the talent and caliber of DSZ. The Malaysian economy needs industry leaders like him.

one of the reason i joined this company because of him which i thought i would present my paperwork in front of him via research program to get his comments and expertise. it seems like , i never have that opportunity .

There is always Volkswagen to saves the company. Volkswagen is still interested. Maybe they could call back DSZ.
Plus, they won’t ruin Malaysia name in Proton. Just like what the did in Skoda.
Skoda is still Chech republic.

DRB-H will fail this time like they did with Air Asia. They want profit not R&D plus, they have no experince in automotive industries.

Pls just sell of this stupid company and abolish the stupid taxes for foreign cars.That way we all can move on
But DSZ did more for proton than anyone else did.In that sense ,live long and prosper my man

consultant for sure…but E & Y ..P & W Coopers are rotten to make things worse..their report leading to engaging consultant. Most of the auditors very young & doesnt know anything on what they audit…tong kosong..

they even came up with around 10 accesories pack called Type A, Type B until Type J because at that time they do not know that overseas there was something called – trim level spec example what was done by Ford. A Ford Escort may have a base called L, then up 1 level called LX, then GL, then GLS, and the final one is top-specced Ghia.

but funny thing, Protons in UK do have as such known as GE, GL, GLS or SE for both Iswara and Wira.

a top person like DSZ is normally required to give a 3 monhts notice in resignation, this is hardly surprising since the day DRB gained major stakes in Proton, againn…

DSZ was with Datuk Nazmi Salleh planning to take over proton shares from khazanah, and they both were competitors to DRB. DRB wont expect to have someone who competed or have ideas to compete with them on board.

it is just natural for DSZ to leave, either that or he will be requested to leave. the pressure will be there.

To save P1 frm the PAKATAN if they win next PRU is to sell it to your friend company….remember that Tun mentioned, Najib still weak to win majority in next PRU. Tun already prepared for the worst scenario & make sure he still got the income…..DSZ just become another KORBAN politic….Thanks DSZ, you are inspired us a lot

Datuk Seri..you should write a book so that your experience at P2 and P1 can be shared with public just like what lee iacocca did.. in that way malaysian in general can delve in your management skill.
anyway thanks for revamping proton into what is is today and good luck in your future undertakings..

The only model that are being produce by dsza is preve and the under powered exora. The rest are just a face lift. No big deal from him. look at new Nissan Syplhy 2013 . Any designer frm proton can come out with something like this .?

I met DSZ last eyar when i went to USS singapore. He was with his child. When i saw him, i remember Proton, when i saw Proton, i remeber him. For me his image is all blending well wi th proton. I never knew who was the previous Proton MD. I bet he knows what he’s doing. He knows where he’s heading. Wish him luck. Goodluck DSZ.

When new towkay take over, they normally replaces or removes all old exec & that’s common practice.Anyway, if or with the 2 maha..L & T around in P1,then we can see the thundercat transforming into stray mieow.

I am so sad. This is the wrong decision. DSZ is the one find out Dany Bahar and fully support him and Dany Bahar hasn’t finished his job in Lotus. The new models are still under development and the money is already spent. If Dany lose support from DSZ and leaves, his other companions like Wolf Zimmermann, Billy Baldwin and Donato Coco will leave too. Those talented people are the one who can compete with Porsche, AMG und Ferrari. Lotus hasn’t realised his new models and these are gone. It will be totally hopeless. SO RIP Proton and Lotus. Malaysia local car industry loses its future. No malaysian player in world auto arena. Bye bye!

Campare to a Nissan engine HR 1.5 de or Toyota Dual VVT-i, the Proton Campro bolt-on have nothing to be proud off. And this is a product of DSZA and predecessor Mahaleel.The new CEO/md of Proton will produce a similiar sh$% but with a different smell.

to the idiots out there who are ranting about abolishing foreign car tax. If no foreign car tax (mind u, local car also kena tax albeit lower tax), gov will lose income! Then they have to compensate loss of income by increasing individual income tax just what countries like UK, Sweden, Norway, US are doing! You buy roti canai also kena goods tax nanti, that’s the type of thing that gov are doing in advance countries! Korea totally almost ban import of foreign cars, you idiots should research into this practice in Korea and how Korean cars are able to progress very quickly due to their gov support. Korean people dont complain about not afford BMW. Now, with loss of car tax, they will then have to increase individual tax. So if now you’re paying 10-26% income tax, that will potentially go up to 40-60% as in UK and Sweden! Think about this further. We are not small country like Singapore which can afford lower tax, there is so much land areas to develop.

It was a very sad news when (the late) Tengku Yahaya Ahmad passed away.

Today, a very sad news again in Proton because DSZ is leaving Proton.

Good luck to DSZ and feel sad cannot meet you in person. You are a great person and have changed Proton a lot. Always like you especially when you are on stage giving speech without reading from paper.

All the best to you, DSZ and to Proton. Proton’s new MD, I have nothing to say but make sure you can do better job if not better don’t sit on this place.

Goodluck to Proton..Please improve the quality of your car and dont take advantage due to our NAP (National Automotive Policy)…DSZ maybe its time for you to work with other automaker / other company….Sometimes changes in working environment will motivate and improve ourself…..Goodluck to you too DSZ:-)…..New owner = new management:-)

What with these emotional statement of DSZ leaving Protong? DRB take over? Who cares?

THIS IS ALREADY A FORESEEN FUTURE!

This is what Malaysians have been saying all this time for the past 28 years, Protong will finally gulung tikar.

This is the SIGN!

But it will not gulung in one night (we wish that would happen). It will suffer by losing itself bit by bit. Factory at Tg Malim to be sold or rent. Workers retrench. Company helm hostile take over (or rather hostile sell over). CEO quitting. These are all a clear signs of a sinking ship.

Hard lesson to be learn; Cronisme and Nepotisme does NOT work well with business.

The rest are self explanatory.

My only regret it happened too late. Too much damage has been done. We the Rakyat have to suffer 2nd most expensive investment after Property.

Protongkat better close shop and let their factory put up for good use eg.assemble Hyundai Kia cars…
________________________

Hyundai Sells Over a Million Vehicles, Kia More than 630,000 in the First Quarter of 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012

Business is booming for South Korea’s Hyundai Group that reported its first quarter results. The Hyundai brand sold an impressive 1,072,679 new vehicles worldwide (domestic: 154,800 / overseas: 917,879) in the first three months of 2012, up 16.7 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Hyundai Motor’s net income climbed 30.6 percent to 2.45 trillion won (US$2.16 billion) in the first quarter, while its operating profit jumped 24.9 percent to 2.28 trillion won (US$2 billion).

The company’s second brand, Kia, saw its global sales rise 12.6 percent to 636,398 vehicles in the first quarter of 2012. In the same period, Kia’s net income rose 26 percent to 1.2 trillion won (US$1.1 billion), while the automaker’s operating profits jumped 33 percent to 1.121 trillion won(US$990 million).

In comparison, the VW Group as a whole recorded a sale increase of 11.3 percent to 2.3 million vehicles in the first three months of the year, with the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivering 1.2 million vehicles (+9.3%) globally.

Hyundai has said that it expects global sales to rise 5.7 percent to 4.3 million units in 2012, reaching 7 million when combined with those of the Kia brand.

When I think back
On these times
And the dreams
We left behind
I’ll be glad ’cause
I was blessed to get
To have you in my life
When I look back
On these days
I’ll look and see your face
You were right there for me

In my dreams
I’ll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There will always be a place
For you for all my life
I’ll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you’ll be
And everywhere I am
There you’ll be

Well you showed me
How it feels
To feel the sky
Within my reach
And I always
Will remember all
The strength you
Gave to me
Your love made me
Make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me

‘Cause I always saw in you
My light, my strength
And I want to thank you
Now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
For always

Well, he is actually a competent CEO. The only problem is that he is heading a national car maker company, where every Malaysian including the critics give seriuos attention and closely monitor to whatever product that Proton produce. Even Politicians also like to raise and use Proton dilemma as an issue so as they can be seen as Patriotic.

However, judging on how the whole story unfolded, it is clearly the idea of introducing Inspira could have been one of the reason why Proton has recently been potrayed a company without future that result in DRB takeover. While the idea of rebadging Inspira is a good business strategy, as no point for Proton to build something costly like 1.8 & 2.0 car segment on their own and ended up no demand, Syed Zainal and few other Proton management could possibly still save their position should Preve has been launced much earlier, as Malaysian just want to see that Proton capable to build a good quality car on their own.

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